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A 43-year-old Tampa man who authorities say called the Hillsborough County sheriff’s non-emergency line nearly 3,000 times over a 19-month period ending in December, was placed on probation this week and ordered not to call the department unless he absolutely needs help, authorities said.

Keith Lukas, 3801 W. Tyson Ave., Apt. 206, was charged with one count of making repeated harassing telephone calls. Sheriff’s spokesman Larry McKinnon said Lukas called the non-emergency line of the department a total of 2,927 times to complain about how he was treated in the past by the department. He used vulgar language and belittled the dispatchers, McKinnon said.

The calls, made between May 1, 2012 and Dec. 5, typically would continue until he hung up or until dispatchers hung up on him after determining there was no need for law enforcement or medical assistance, McKinnon said. Lukas often would call back multiple times one after another and often would just ramble or continue to be abusive, he said.

As a result of the abuse from Lukas, sheriff’s deputies filed a complaint with the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office , which issued the warrant.

McKinnon said that on Tuesday, Lukas pleaded no contest to the county charge and was placed on probation. He also was ordered not to contact the sheriff’s office unless he has a legitimate need for help, McKinnon said.